Toy boat



5. AVELLINO Sept. 13, 1966 TOY BOAT Filed April 2, 1965 FIG! FIG. 4

INVENTOR .AVELLINO AT O E S United States Patent 3,272,173 TOY BOAT Sebastian Avellino, Roslindale, Mass. (8 Anderson Road, Stroughton, Mass.) Filed Apr. 2, 1965, Ser. No. 444,977 4 Claims. (Cl. 11522.3)

The present invention relates to toy boats and more particularly to a new and improved steering mechanism for use in toy boats designed primarily for youngsters to propel and support themselves in the water.

Many types of toys have been developed for supporting youngsters in the water. A toy boat as described in copending US. Patent application Serial No. 238,908, filed November 20, 1962, now Patent No. 3,182,628, May 11, 1965, is particularly useful. Such boats are relatively lightweight, inexpensive and yet, provide for ease of propulsion through the water. However, such boats frequently do not have positive steering mechanisms which can be automatically operated by a passenger in the boat.

An important object of this invention is to provide an improved boat having safe, dependable and easily operable steering means.

Another important object of this invention is to provide an improved boat in accordance with the preceding object which includes means for mechanically propelling the boat and its occupant in any desired direction.

Another important object of this invention is to provide a toy boat in accordance with the preceding objects which is relatively inexpensive yet extremely safe and dependable for use by youngsters.

According to the invention a boat has a body made of a low density material capable of supporting the weight of a passenger in water. An improved steering means for turning the boat is provided and comprises at least one projection extending outwardly of the body on either side of a central axis of the body. The projections carry a drag surface substantially positioned above the water line of the body and constructed and arranged to be automatically actuated toturn the boat upon shifting of passenger weight in the body causing one of the projections to drag in the water and turn the boat.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention the boat comprises an annular body adapted to float upon the surface of the water. The body has an integral seat suspended beneath it in which the user sits surrounded by the annular body and with his legs and lower part of his torso submerged. Propelling means are secured to the body and are positioned to be operated by the limbs of the person in the seat so as to drive the boat in any desired forward or rearward direction. Steering means in accordance with the improvement of this invention are positioned and arranged to be automatically actuated to turn the boat to the right or left upon shifting of passenger weight in the body.

These and other objects and features of this invention along with its incident advantages will be better understood and appreciated from the following detailed description of one embodiment thereof selected for purposes of illustration and shown in the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a preferred embodiment of a boat constructed in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 2 is a top view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a front view thereof; and

FIG. 4 is a rear view thereof.

The boat shown in the drawings includes a body or hull 11 with a hydrodynamically shaped bow 12 flared sides 14 and a stern 16. A longitudinally extending axis (not shown) extends through the center line of the boat from bow to stern. The boat is provided with drive 3,272,173 Patented Sept. 13, 1966 "ice means 22 located as shown in the drawings at the bow 12 forward of the opening 18.

The hull or body 11 may be made of any low density material and preferably polystyrene foam or other plastic foam. If desired, a layer of plywood or other sheet material having greater structural strength than expanded styrene or other low density material may be used as a deck layer for the body.

A seat 20 is disposed beneath the opening 18 and is preferably a molded integral part of the body 11. In some cases a strap type seat made of fabric may be employed instead of the molded seat 20. A person riding on the boat straddles the seat. The width of the seat is substantially less than the width of the opening 18 so that there is ample room through which to slip the feet of a passenger when getting in and out of the boat.

The mechanical drive means 22 is preferably positioned forward of the seat 20 and includes a mast 24 which supports a horizontal shaft 26 having crank arms 28 at each end. Hand grips 30 .are carried on each crank arm to facilitate grasping of the crank by the operator. The mast 24 at its upper end is made up of a pair of parallel side supports 32 and 34 through which shaft 26 extends, and the shaft 26 carries a pulley 36 between the two supports 32 and 34 for rotation of the shaft.

The mast 24 preferably extends vertically through the body 10 and is cut at its lower end having a pair of opposed walls 45 and 46 of a U-shaped bracket attached thereto and extending beneath the body 10. Walls 45 and 46 carry a shaft 38 which in turn carries a screw propeller 40 designed to propel the hull through the water when rotated by the shaft. A second pulley 44 is fixedly mounted on shaft 38 having an axis substantially perpendicular to the shaft of pulley 36. The pulleys 36 and 44 are joined by a belt 46 so that rotation of the upper shaft 26 operated by the crank handles 28 rotates the screw propeller 40 to move the boat in the water. Preferably the screw propeller 4t) and other moving parts disposed in the water near the region normally occupied by the feet of the rider, are substantially covered by the seat portion 20 which extends forwardly of the opening 18 as best shown in FIG. 2. In some cases a cage or protective structure may be positioned about pulley 44.

While the mast 24 is shown in the drawing to be supported on the body 10 by a pair of plates 52 and 54 which may lie against the upper surface of the body respectively, the mast may be secured by any suitable means taking into consideration the material from which the mast and plates are made. Alternately, the mast 24 may be formed as an integral molded portion of the body 11 to lower manufacturing and assembly costs. Preferably the shaft 38 is positioned in a bore provided in the molded body 11 as best shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

It should be understood that the specific crank arrangement and drive arrangement may vary in the improved construction of this invention. In some cases the screw propeller may be positioned forwardly of the body of a user as more fully described in copending application Serial No. 238,908 filed November 20, 1962 in the United States Patent Ofiice.

Projections 53 and 63 are provided and are substantially identical. The projections extend on either side of the central axis of the boat. Dragging surfaces 55, 56, 57 and 58 are provided by the projections 53 and 54. These projections are normally slightly above the water line when a passenger is carried in the boat as best shown in FIG. 1. In some cases the projections which are preferably integral with the molded body 11, and may cornprise expanded polystyrene molded as a single unit with the body 11, may be positioned slightly below the water line when the boat is level with the surface of the water.

On tipping of the boat, one or the other of the projections 53 Or 54 will be positioned below the water line or at least have a substantial dragging surface thereof positioned below the water line to create a drag on one side of the boat as will be further described.

In use the operator sits straddling the seat 20 facing forward in the direction of the mechanical drive means 22. When seated on the seat 20 the operators legs and the lower portion of his torso is submerged while his chest is within or above the opening 18 and at least his head, shoulders and arms are positioned above the upper surface of the body 11 out of the water. Of course the weight of the operator will determine how low in the water the boat body 10 rests. With his arms free the operator can conveniently grasp the handles 30 on the crank arm 28 and rotate the drive shaft 26 with its pulleys 36 and belt 46. Travel of the belt 46 on the course defined by the pulleys 36 and 44 causes the shaft 38 and screw propeller 40 to rotate. Rotation of the crank handles 28 in one direction causes the screw propeller 40 to draw the body 10 in a forward direction, and when rotation of the handles is reversed the boat moves rearwardly in the water.

To turn the vehicle in the water, the operator need not actuate any specific mechanisms with either his hands or feet. It is only necessary for the operator to lean from one side of the boat to another. For example, if the operator is normally sitting upright in the boat, by leaning to the left as shown in FIG. 2 while operating the crank handles, projection 63 is submerged and creates a greater drag on the left hand side of the boat. Thus the boat will automatically turn to the left. Merely by shifting torso body weight this turn is accomplished. Similarly by leaning to the right of center the operator can cause the boat to turn right when projection 53 provides dragging surfaces 57 and 58 below the water line.

Because the body 10 is made of a low density material rather than an inflated tube, it is particularly safe for the body cannot be punctured and lose its buoyancy. The seat 20 which is suspended well below the body 10 lowers the combined center of gravity of the vehicle and the operator to a point where the vehicle is extremely stable. Because wide openings are provided on each side of the seat and in alignment with the body opening 18, the feet of the operator may pass easily through the opening 18 and not become wedged between the seat and the side of the opening.

While one embodiment of this invention has been shown and described, it should be understood that many variations thereof, are possible. While a wedge shaped projection has been shown positioned on either side of the vehicle as shown in FIG. 2, other shaped projections such as rounded or flat dragging surface projections can be used. The specific surface area of the dragging surfaces will determine the degree of turn as will the amount of the body weight shift with any particular size and shape projection. It is a feature of this invention that no limbs of the body are employed to actuate any mechanism or need be employed to turn the boat along a positive curved path. This leaves the hands and legs of the operator free for other uses. Still another feature of this invention is the use of a crank arm whereby the crank handles are turned in a vertical plane tending to prevent side to side movement of the craft during propulsion. Side to side movement is minimized by this expedient and only body weight shifting causes significant turning of the craft.

Having described this invention in detail those skilled in the art will appreciate the numerous modifications which can be made without departing from its spirit. Therefore, it is not intended to limit the breadth of this invention to the specific embodiment illustrated and described. Rather it is intended that the breadth of this invention be determined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:

1. A single passenger, lightweight boat comprising a hydrodynamically shaped body having a longitudinally extending axis, said body being made of low density plastic foam material and being capable of supporting the weight of a passenger balanced about said longitudinal axis,

a seat suspended on a lower part of the body on which said passenger may sit with his legs and part of his torso submerged,

a screw propeller suspended by the body,

hand operated drive means mounted on the body in front of the seat and connected to the screw propeller for rotating the screw propeller to propel the boat,

steering means for turning said boat, said means consisting essentially of at least one non-movable projection fixed with respect to said body and extending outwardly on either side of said axis of said body whereby shifting of the passengers weight from one side of said body to the other causes turning of the boat in the water leaving the hands of the passenger free to operate said drive means.

2. A boat in accordance with claim 1 wherein said body, seat and projections are integrally molded of a plastic foam material.

3. A boat in accordance with claim 2 wherein said steering means projections carry dragging surfaces normally substantially positioned above the water line of said boat when a passenger is seated in said boat and one dragging surface of said projections is lowered into the water when said passengers weight is shifted.

4. A boat in accordance with claim 2 wherein said hand operated drive means is operated by movement of the hands of said passenger substantially in vertical directions, said projections being substantially V-shaped at their forward ends.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,681,459 6/ 1954 Paguette 22.3 2,752,617 7/1956 Fowler et al 115-223 3,124,096 3/1964 Craig 11466.5 X

FOREIGN PATENTS 1,364,349 5/ 1964 France.

MILTON BUCHLER, Primary Examiner. ANDREW H. FARRELL, Examiner. 

1. A SINGLE PASSENGER, LIGHTWEIGHT BOAT COMPRISING A HYDRODYNAMICALLY SHAPED BODY HAVING A LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING AXIS, SAID BODY BEING MADE OF LOW DENSITY PLASTIC FOAM MATERIAL AND BEING CAPABLE OF SUPPORTING THE WEIGHT OF A PASSENGER BALANCED ABOUT SAID LONGITUDINAL AXIS, A SEAT SUSPENDED ON A LOWER PART OF THE BODY ON WHICH SAID PASSENGER MAY SIT WITH HIS LEGS AND PART OF HIS TORSO SUBMERGED, A SCREW PROPELLER SUSPENDED BY THE BODY, HAND OPERATED DRIVE MEANS MOUNTED ON THE BODY IN FRONT OF THE SEAT AND CONNECTED TO THE SCREW PROPELLER FOR ROTATING THE SCREW PROPELLER TO PROPEL THE BOAT, STEERING MEANS FOR TURNING SAID BOAT, SAID MEANS CONSISTING ESSENTIALLY OF AT LEAST ONE NON-MOVABLE PROJECTION FIXED WITH RESPECT TO SAID BODY AND EXTENDING OUTWARDLY ON EITHER SIDE OF SAID AXIS OF SAID BODY WHEREBY SHIFTING OF THE PASSENGER''S WEIGHT FROM ONE SIDE OF SAID BODY TO THE OTHER CAUSES TURNING OF THE BOAT IN THE WATER LEAVING THE HANDS OF THE PASSENGER FREE TO OPERATE SAID DRIVE MEANS. 